Royal Navy races to arm ships against drone threat
Summary
The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has issued a fast-moving Request for Information for a ship-based counter-drone capability under the codename Project TALON. Responses are wanted by 17 March and, if progressed, the MoD expects a contract and an initial deliverable within a month – an unusually rapid procurement timeline.
Project TALON seeks a “system of systems” combining mature, maritime-suitable sensors and mixed effectors (kinetic and non-kinetic) that can detect, track, identify and defeat airborne threats up to NATO Class 2 UAS (around 600 kg). The solution should operate with a high degree of autonomy and be installable without lengthy integration with existing ship fire-control systems.
Key Points
- MoD issued an RFI for Project TALON with responses due by 17 March and possible delivery of initial capability within one month.
- Requirement: a rapidly procured, installable Counter-UAS package suitable for maritime platforms to detect, track, identify and defeat threats.
- Project expects a mix of effectors — kinetic (guns/missiles) and non-kinetic (lasers, microwaves, jamming) — in a “system of systems” approach to enable mass and redundancy.
- Solution should favour mature, existing products to speed deployment rather than long development programmes.
- High autonomy is required to avoid protracted integration with shipboard fire control and sensors (akin to Phalanx CIWS independence).
- Target threat set: NATO Class 2 UAS (medium drones up to ~600 kg), including Shahed-type loitering munitions used in the current Gulf conflict.
- Operational expectations include a defended area between 100 km² and 2,500 km² and engagement capacity of at least 25 targets before reloading (100 desired).
- Existing Royal Navy assets referenced: DragonFire laser (first fit 2027 to a Type 45) and Martlet missiles on Wildcat helicopters, with Martlet-armed Wildcats already deployed to the Eastern Mediterranean.
Context and Relevance
Recent uses of medium and loitering drones in the Gulf and elsewhere have accelerated navies’ urgency to field layered shipboard defences. Project TALON reflects the need for quickly fielded, pragmatic solutions rather than long-term bespoke systems. For industry, the RFI signals immediate opportunities for suppliers of mature C-UAS sensors, directed-energy systems, short-range missiles and electronic warfare suites.
For defence planners and fleet operators, the emphasis on autonomy and bolt-on installability shows a priority on rapid force protection that can be retrofitted across frigates and destroyers without long dockyard waits.
Why should I read this?
Because this isn’t a slow study — it’s the MoD trying to buy a working counter-drone package in weeks, not years. If you’re in defence, maritime security, EW, missile or directed-energy tech, this is a green light to get proposals in fast. If you just care about where naval threats are heading, it tells you the navy expects swarm and loitering drones to be a near-term problem.